The chapters I read in Micah and Matthew seem to go together perfectly. Micah tells of a coming Messiah, judgment of the wicked, and redemption of the righteous. In Matthew, the Messiah has come and tells the disciples of the Final Judgment, when he will fulfill Micah’s prophetic words and judge all people.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 ESV
Micah foretells of the Messiah, the One who is coming to save Israel. He declares that although Bethlehem is too small to be among the clans of Judah, it will produce Israel’s ruler. Jesus, Israel’s eternal king would come from the same town and lineage as David, just as the LORD had promised.
“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my soul?” Micah 6:6-7 ESV
This passage offers some very interesting foreshadowing as Micah rhetorical asks what men must do before they can approach the LORD. Ultimately, he declares that God requires of man to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. God gave His firstborn for my transgression. I do not need to sacrifice animals or my firstfruits to the LORD made the ultimate sacrifice: His own Son.
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 ESV
Who is like you, O LORD?
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25: 31-32 ESV
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells His disciples of the Final Judgment, when He will gather the nations and separate the righteous from the unrighteous. The righteous will inherit the Kingdom of God while the unrighteous will be cast into the eternal fire.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me… Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ Matthew 25:34-36, 40 ESV
One of God’s major callings to Christians is to care for others. Jesus spent much of his time on earth caring for other people. Whether it was feeding them, teaching them, or healing them of their sicknesses, Jesus’ whole life was based around serving others, culminating in His death on the cross to ultimately save me from my sins. Just as Jesus had a kind and compassionate heart towards those around him, so I also should have a heart that looks to serve instead of be served.
Dear God, please give me a servant’s heart. Please help me care for those around me who need love and support. In Your Holy Name, Amen.
Nathanael (nborger2017)
Sixty-six books in a year 